Instant messaging has been a staple for years and it looks like this trend won’t slow down. We send text, email, and chat messages instantly to convey a message. Multiple apps were developed jumping on this trend of instant communication. One such app is Apple’s iMessage.
Apple has created iMessage to allow its users to communicate instantly. iOS, macOS, and OS X users can instantly send messages to each other through the platform. However, like most platforms, iMessage is not free of flaws.
Sometimes, the iMessage not working on Mac issue would come up. If you’re in this article, you’re probably annoyed with your iMessage app since it’s experiencing issues. You’re in luck, though. We will give you advice on how to fix it. Read on.
Issue: iMessage Is Not Sending Or Delivering My MessagesIssue: iMessage Is Not Syncing Between iPhone And MacTip: If You’re Experiencing Issues, Back Up iMessages & Optimize Your MacIn Conclusion
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Issue: iMessage Is Not Sending Or Delivering My Messages
Trying to send a message on your Mac device but you get the red exclamation point all the time? Well, that just means the message you sent wasn’t delivered. Below some solutions to this issue.
Solution 01: Force Quit And Restart
The Apple menu has an option that allows you to Force Quit an application. Go to this menu and click Messages. Then, click the Force Quit button. Once the application is closed, you can simply restart it again.
Solution 02: Restart Your Mac Device
Sometimes, a simple restart of the computer is what you need for everything to become fully functional, including fixing iMessage not working on Mac issue. You can restart your Mac by going to the Apple Menu and clicking Restart. Once that is complete, you just have to wait for your computer to open up.
Solution 03: Signing Out & Signing In
To sign out of iMessages, simply go to Message and Preferences located at the menu. You can simply find the option to sign off the account. Once this is complete, you can simply sign into the application again.
Solution 04: Enable Your iMessage Account
Go to Messages and open Preferences. Then, go to Accounts. On the left side of the screen, select iMessages. Now make sure the box labeled “Enable This Account” is checked. If it’s not, then simply check the box.
Solution 05: Check Your Internet Connection
You need to connect to the Internet to use iMessage. So if you encounter iMessage not working on Mac issue, it is best to double check if your Mac computer is actually connected to the net. If you’re experiencing issues with the connection, here are some tips to help you with this problem:
- Ensure that airplane mode is deactivated.
- If you’re in a public Wi-Fi network, make sure your device hasn’t been logged out of it. In addition, you should make sure that they don’t provide certain service or data limitations.
- Restart the Mac device.
- Restart the router.
- Instead of using your Wi-Fi, try the internet cable.
- Use another device as a hotspot. Then, connect to that specific hotspot that you made.
Solution 06: Set Date And Time
There are times when the settings for date and time mess with applications. To fix this, simply visit the Apple menu. After which, visit System Preferences and click Date & Time. Then, press Time Zone. Ensure that the option labeled “Set Date And Time Automatically” is selected. If it is already set as such, then deselect it. Then, wait for less than a minute before activating it again. Sometimes, it just needs a simple nudge.
Solution 07: Ensure That The Same Account Is Used For Both iOS and Mac Devices
Use your Mac device and go to Messages. In the app go to Preferences and press Accounts. After which, select iMessage. Then, use your iOS device. In this device, visit Settings and then go to Messages. Then, tap on Send And Receive. Finally, make a comparison between the iOS and Mac account. Make sure the two are the same.
Solution 08: Lock And Unlock Keychain Access
If the seven solutions above don’t fix the problem of iMessage not working on Mac, then there might be an issue with Keychain. To resolve this problem, visit Launchpad. Find and open Keychain Access and press File. Lock the Keychain Login and then unlock it afterward. Enter the necessary password if you are prompted to do so.
Solution 09: Check Apple’s System Status Page
You can also check Apple’s system status page to check whether there is an outage. If maintenance is being held or an outage is present, then there is nothing wrong with your app or with your Mac device. This just means that Apple is currently experiencing issues or having something fixed that’s why their services are down.
If none of the above solutions work, then you must contact Apple’ support unit. They will look at your issue and resolve the problem using their technical knowledge and experience. Now, let’s move on to another issue associated with iMessage not working on Mac.
Issue: iMessage Is Not Syncing Between iPhone And Mac
For smooth connectivity, making sure your Mac and iPhone syncs together is important. To ensure excellent synchronization between these two devices, you can follow the tips below:
- Use your iOS device and visit Settings. Then, go to Message. Finally, activate the option labeled iMessage.
- Deactivate and then activate the iMessage option in your device. In this way, the connectivity between devices is refreshed.
- Checking the Wi-Fi connection is a simple way of ensuring that your device is actually connected to the Internet.
- Delete old, unimportant threads and messages within iMessage for better connectivity.
- Press the option “Send And Receive” (found in Settings > Message) using your iOS device. This will allow synchronization between your email address and phone number.
Tip: If You’re Experiencing Issues, Back Up iMessages & Optimize Your Mac
If you’re experiencing issues with iMessage not working on Mac device, it is best to back it up before having it fixed by Apple’s support team. In this way, you don’t lose important messages and attachments. To do this, you can use FoneDog’s iOS Data Backup & Restore tool.
The said software can back up any type of file within your Mac (or any iOS device) and restore it to your desired location. Messages, contacts, photos, videos, documents, and other file types can be instantly copied into a single backup file which you can restore for future use.
You can also use TechyCub Mac Cleaner tool to speed up your Mac. Unnecessary files might be causing issues on your apps thus slowing them down. This tool can help delete junk data and put your Mac back in excellent condition.
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In Conclusion
iMessage might not be working on your Mac by not delivering messages and not syncing with your iPhone. In this case, you can follow various solutions above to help you with these issues. In case you need the Apple support team to fix the iMessage not working on Mac issue, you can always back up its contents using FoneDog’s iOS Data Backup & Restore tool. Finally, you can use TechyCub Mac Cleaner software to speed up your Mac and delete unnecessary junk that might cause your applications to “not” work properly.
